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I clinked mugs with them, then said, “To a good holiday season.”
Now that I was home, I could get to know my siblings again, see what I’d missed out on.
* * *
After I’d drank coffee with Dad and Jameson, I headed over to Daphne’s cottage. It was perfect for just Daphne and Izzy.
Izzy opened the door. “Aunt Fiona!”
I held my arms open as she jumped into them. “Umph. You’re huge.”
“Mommy said I’ve grown a lot this year.”
“I believe it,” I said as I set her down.
Daphne hugged me next. “It’s good to have you home.”
“What did you and Cole do last night?” I asked as I came inside, hanging my coat on the hook by the door.
“He showed me the building he constructed at his new house. It’s for my pies. You should see it. Here, let me show you the pictures.”
I waited while Daphne sifted through the pictures on her phone and tilted the screen toward me. There was a picture of the front porch and the interior. “It looks bigger than what you have here.”
Daphne beamed. “Cole wanted me to have space to grow. I think he was afraid I wouldn’t want to move in.”
“Are you sure you want to move in without being engaged, though?” I’d taken marriage off the table ever since I’d offered to marry Aiden and he’d turned me down flat.
Daphne held out her hand, her smile telling me before I saw the sparkling diamond. “He proposed last night.”
“It’s beautiful. Congratulations.” I hugged her tightly, surprised by the intensity of my feelings.
“Thank you. I’m so happy.”
“I’m happy for you.”
“Come into the kitchen. I’ll get you something to drink.”
I followed her. Izzy stayed in the living room.
Daphne grabbed a glass and filled it with ice, then water. “Cole and I kept our relationship a secret for a long time, worried that our families wouldn’t accept it. I was worried Cole would choose them over me, but in the end, he realized that we were his family.”
That was sweet and unexpected. I’d pushed so far away from my family, I wasn’t close to them anymore.
Daphne handed me the glass of iced water. “How are you? Why did you decide to visit?”
“You know I was up for that promotion.”
“Did you get it?” Then Daphne saw my face. “They gave it to that guy. Was it Don?”
“He wasn’t there as long as me. But he went to some Ivy League school, and his dad owns a competing hotel chain.” I didn’t think it was necessary to tell Daphne I’d dated Don because I wasn’t even upset that I’d broken things off.
Daphne’s forehead wrinkled. “Isn’t he just going to leave and work for his dad?”
“I would think so. He’s biding his time here until he can work for Daddy.”
“Then why would they pick him?”
“I think it has something to do with keeping the competition close. I don’t know, honestly. I feel like I worked hard, and I deserved that promotion. I put so much time and effort into that job, and now what?”
